July 29, 2011

Paul Cheal named IPC’s digital publishing director

NME publishing director Paul Cheal has been appointed digital publishing director at IPC Media.

Cheal will be responsible for leading the publisher’s editorial and publishing teams in the ‘ongoing development of IPC brands across new devices and platforms, with particular emphasis on tablet growth”.

He joined IPC, which publishes magaines including NME, TV Times and Marie Claire, in 2000 as associate publisher of its outdoor and hobbies group, before holding publishing director roles for its motoring and marine titles. In 2006 he was appointed publishing director of NME, NME.com and Uncut, overseeing launches of NMETV and NME Radio and the expansion of the NME Awards franchise.

In his new role he will report directly to IPC digital director Neil Robinson. ‘His proven understanding of digital publishing, allied to his experience of developing strategies in emerging platforms, are skills that we can now bring to bear across all of our publishing divisions,’said Robinson.

Before taking up his new role Cheal will take on additional publishing responsibility for Feelgood games, IPC Connect’s new gaming website for women, and in this role will report to managing director Fiona Dent from 8 September.

The site is currently overseen by Kevin Heery, who has been named digital technology director.